Once there were two fathers.

One father told his son that he would provide him with a living all his life. He would raise his children (the father’s grandchildren) for him. If the son began having marital problems, he would do everything possible to make the son’s wife happy enough to stay by giving her gifts and helping in any way he could. He explained his commitment this way: “I know there are many demands on a young man as he becomes an adult. But my commitment of unconditional love is to meet all those demands myself. You should know right now that I don’t expect anything from you because I plan to provide for you everything that could ever be demanded from you.”

The other father was horrible to his son. He often punished his son and then said he did it because he loved him. He told him that he would soon be on his own, and that he had better develops habits of hard work and sound judgment. He’d better learn to resist lust and avoid loose women. He’d better not envy those who are better off. He told the son that if he pursued his advice he would probably prosper and even if he didn’t he would still be better off. He explained his commitment this way: “There is a way of death and a way of life. I want you to pursue the way of life by trusting in the Lord rather than leaning on your own understanding. In all  your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths. But if you hate wisdom then you love death, and that is all you can expect. You will bring about your utter ruin.”

So which one of these fathers was actually closer to the image of God our Father?

And which son had any reason to think his father really loved and respected him?